Facebook Messenger seems on the rise and stronger than ever, with an impressive 300 million users now using its audio and video calling service each month.
While there are plenty of alternatives out there, Facebook Messenger may be uniquely positioned to take on its rivals and shake up the scene even further. First off, Facebook Messenger has as many as one billion users, and the fact that 300 million of those are using audio and video calling is a noteworthy achievement. Skype, for instance, is among the most popular messaging services, but its entire user base pales in comparison to Facebook Messenger's.
Facebook's head of Messenger, David Marcus, announced the new milestone at TechCrunch Disrupt SF, pointing out that applications specifically designed just for voice and video calling have fewer users than the 300 million audio and voice callers on Facebook Messenger.
Considering that people already spend a lot of time on Facebook, however, it's not that much of a surprise to see Messenger getting more users hooked on its services. It's even less surprising considering that Facebook pretty much forced its Messenger on mobile users who didn't have the app installed, removing the option of handling messages from within the main Facebook app.
The aggressive push may have drawn some criticism, but it seems to have worked on Facebook's favor. The Messenger app now accounts for 10 percent of all VoIP calls made worldwide, and it's still growing.
Facebook is constantly updating its Messenger app and adding new features, aiming to enhance the overall experience. Noteworthy upgrades include the implementation of end-to-end encryption back in July and the addition of instant video earlier this month, aiming to help users communicate better and more securely.
With a wide user base, constant upgrades and advanced infrastructure to handle high-bandwidth transmissions, Facebook Messenger looks poised to disrupt the scene even further. It's a rising force and this new milestone for audio and video callers is just the beginning.
Facebook Messenger is expected to add group video calls down the line, which should further boost its user base and popularity. The app already offers group calling, but it's just for audio calls at the moment.
Marcus did not specifically confirm plans to add group video calls soon, but he did hint that the feature is in the pipeline.
"If you look at what we've launched to date, it's a pretty logical thing to build at some point," Marcus said at TechCrunch Disrupt SF, when asked about group video calling on Facebook Messenger.
It remains to be seen what Facebook Messenger will offer next, but one thing's for sure: the app is on the rise and is a strong contender on the scene, expected to grow even further.
Are you using Facebook Messenger? If so, what do you think of it?
